The Detroit Tigers are sure to break out of their July swoon anytime soon and what better way to do it than against another team whose performance has also been below standard, the Oakland Athletics . The only problem is the Tigers are pitching a rookie, RHP Jordan Tata (0-0, 6.41 ERA-career) in his first big-league start against RHP Joe Blanton (8-7, 3.69 ERA) for Oakland. The Athletics haven’t fared well in Blanton’s last 10 starts going 3-7 however the record is more due to the lack of run production than ineffective pitching. Blanton, who will be starting his sixth game for July, has struggled going 1-3 with a not so respectable 5.24 ERA. Tayta has pitched 14.2 career innings all in 2006 in eight game appearances.

Tata, most recently has been with Detroit’s AAA affiliate Toledo (Mud-Hens) where he was 3-3 with a 3.29 ERA. Tata is being called to the big club to replace ailing Kenny Rogers whom was placed on the disabled list Sunday. 

Oakland is returning home from Seattle after losing three games of the four game series while DetroitAnaheim. Detroit has also lost six of its last seven games.  was swept in a three-game weekend series by the Angels at

Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com give a slight edge to Blanton and the Athletics with a -112 money line chalk while the Tayta and the Tigers are getting +102 ml juice. The game total is holding at 9 ½ runs with the OVER price set at -105 and the UNDER at -115)

Reno Goldberg’s pick: I am going with the rookie pitcher and Detroit tonight and am not really sure why. If there is a reason its because the Tigers have more bullets than Oakland and they are due to explode. Another reason is my lack of confidence in Joe Blanton who hasn’t been very good of late. In totals betting, I think the OVER 9 ½ (-105) has good value. Detroit should get some run production off of Blanton and I am sure the rookie (Tata) is sure to give up his share. I don’t understand why the UNDER is favored at -115.

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